#5 HAPPY X WTF
EDITION 10/10
The fifth KLAYRock : EXPERIMENTS collection pays tribute to one of the greatest neo-expressionist artists of our time - Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988).
Born in 1960, Basquiat’s artistic endeavors began as a street artist, spray painting graffiti on buildings in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Contrary to popular belief Basquiat was a true hustler, slowly and steadily infiltrating the elitist clique of the New York art scene. Art insiders were drawn to the anarchic, street influences seen in his art; leading to collaborations with Andy Warhol - catapulting the former graffiti vandal to super stardom.
Basquiat’s art is manic, yet consistent. Authentic, while somehow maintaining mainstream appeal. The HAPPY X WTF collection aims to capture the same formulaic madness through the use of bold, street art inspired graffiti lines and cohesive color combinations; the collection is direct in its depiction of being “HAPPY” while satisfying our need for “WTF” elements in order to stimulate our desensitized-sensibilities - much like Jean-Michel' Basquiat’s short but forever influential life.
Image courtesy of Lizzie Himmel / West Chelsea Contemporary
Untitled (1982)
Versus Medici (1982)
HAPPY X WTF
10 OF 10
The HAPPY X WTF collection is a visual representation of the “organized mania” that has become an integral part of today’s dialogue. No longer are conversations a simple exchange of two perspectives; continuous 24/7 consumption of information has burdened us with the need to over-analyze - the expectation that one will put themselves in everyone’s shoes.
The collection consists of 10 unique hand painted digital sculptures, visualizing the manic nature of today’s society through bold street art lines inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat’s sensibilities. The hero of our piece is personified by; the now iconic - KLAYRock “stranger in the golden mouse mask.”
We may be happy, but complete satisfaction only comes when that happiness is balanced out by a dose of WTF.
HAPPY X WTF #6 / 10 (2021)
HAPPY X WTF #4 / 10 (2021)
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988)